About Us

Don Kile
President, Ellman Companies – Master Planned Communities Division
President, Ellman Companies – Truckside Media Division

Don Kile, a native of Amarillo, Texas, moved to Arizona in 1987 to further his banking career and serve as an advisor and strategic consultant to struggling companies, during which time a keen interest in real estate development surfaced. Prior to joining The Ellman Companies 12 years ago, Kile posted successes in numerous commercial and residential real estate projects throughout the Valley. Since teaming with Ellman, he has successfully ran the Companies’ Canadian business interests through 2004, commuting to and from the Companies’ Canadian offices in Toronto, all while remaining active in local business initiatives and Valley civic and cultural activities with his family.

In his duties as President of The Ellman Companies Master Planned Communities Division, Kile oversees the acquisition, planning, and development of The Ellman Companies residential communities, and as President of Ellman’s Truckside Media Division.

Serving on the Board of Directors and Executive Committees of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and Phoenix Regional Sports Commission, Kile joins the other distinguished members in working on projecting a regional identity and collaborating with other organizations to ensure a competitive, vibrant and self-sustaining regional economy supported by a talented, technologically advanced, diverse workforce.

Kile resides in Phoenix, Arizona with his two children. He serves on numerous boards and committees promoting primary and secondary educational needs, youth athletics, global citizenship and various non-profit charities.

Jon Schmieder, President
Phoenix Regional Sports Commission

Jon Schmieder was hired as President of the Phoenix Regional Sports Commission (PRSC) in June of 2008. A fifteen-year veteran in the sports tourism and events industry, Schmieder brings a wealth of experience in sports administration, having served as Executive Director of both the Metro Denver Sports Commission and the Tulsa Sports Commission. In addition to his sports commission posts, Schmieder has held leadership positions with the Senior Olympic Games in Tucson, Ariz., as well as Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. (Pop Warner Football and Cheerleading), Langhorne, Penn.  Schmieder has been active in the communities in which he has resided, having served as a coach for a variety of collegiate and youth sports teams, on multiple alumni boards with the University of Arizona, on various junior golf committees, and is a past board member of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Green Country, Tulsa, Okla. In 2009, Schmieder was named one of the top 25 “Innovators & Influencers” in the sports events industry by Sports Events magazine.

As Executive Director of the sports commissions in both Tulsa and Denver, Schmieder was credited with successfully soliciting several national governing bodies and event rights holders to host championship sporting events in those communities. These sports partners included the NCAA, USA Curling, AAU, SportAccord, Western Athletic Conference, American Bicycle Association, and the Women’s International Bowling Congress. While in Denver, Schmieder and a group of community leaders led the effort to return the Colorado-Colorado State college football game to Denver’s Invesco Field in 2006.

In his management position with the organizing committee for the Senior Olympic Games in Tucson, Schmieder oversaw entertainment activities for the 100,000 square foot corporate village, served as ticket manager for 23 venues, coordinated public relations initiatives and prepared a successful bid package for the 1998 USA Volleyball Open Championships.

As chief operating officer for the Pop Warner League Little Scholars, Schmieder handled all sponsorship and licensing for the 75-year-old organization. In this role he worked with the NFL and the NFL Players Association on marketing and branding projects, and helped expand youth programming for the organization.

Reporting to the PRSC Board of Directors, Schmieder oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization, including strategic planning, budget management, fundraising, marketing and communications. He is the primary liaison to sport’s national governing bodies and rights holders, national and local event organizers, as well as PRSC partners.

A native of Tucson, Ariz., Schmieder holds a bachelor degree in marketing, with coursework in athletic coaching, ethics, athletics administration, economics and psychology from the University of Arizona. He also holds a masters degree in higher education leadership from Northern Arizona University. He has been a featured panelist for the Oklahoma Governor’s Conference on Tourism (1999), National Association of Sports Commissions (2000, 2003, 2004, and 2008), NCAA YES Clinic (1999), US Sports Congress (2009), and USOC SportsLink (2008 and 2010). He has been a guest columnist for several industry trade publications including Sports Events Magazine, TulsaSportsWeb.com and currently co-hosts a sports business radio show in the Phoenix area. From 1997-1999 Schmieder served as the National Vice Chairman for the AAU Golf Program. He currently sits on the advisory boards for the University of Arizona’s marketing department as well as the sports management program and is First Vice Chairman of the Maricopa County Alumni Club. Schmieder is currently the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the National Association of Sports Commissions.

Marc Garcia
Vice President of Visitor Marketing and Community Development for the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau (GPCVB)

Marc Garcia, Vice President of Visitor Marketing and Community Development for the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau (GPCVB), is responsible for the Travel Industry Sales department, Convention Services department and Community Development department, all of which provide a greater awareness, locally, nationally and internationally of Greater Phoenix as a premier meetings and leisure travel destination. A registered lobbyist, Garcia is also the legislative liaison to the GPCVB President & CEO. His responsibilities for the Convention Services department include Housing, Concierge and Registration services. Travel Industry Sales efforts are targeted to wholesale tour operators and travel agents in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Germany and the Pacific Rim as primary markets.

Since joining the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau in 1997, Garcia has overseen numerous efforts to promote the destination’s multi-cultural heritage, increase and enhance multi-cultural attractions and market Greater Phoenix as a premier multi-cultural destination to attract conventions and leisure travelers from diverse ethnic groups. Under his direction, the Bureau has booked over 190 multi-cultural meetings and conventions, representing over $183 million in direct visitor expenditures to Greater Phoenix.

Garcia also directs youth and amateur sports sales & marketing efforts for the GPCVB. He is responsible for partnering with local organizations to major tournaments and events to the destination. To date, he has been successful in landing the following programs: US Youth Soccer Region IV ODP Championships, US Youth Soccer National ODP Championships, USA Field Hockey’s National Hockey Festival, US Lacrosse, NCAA and WrestleMania 26 in March 2010. Garcia manages the housing blocks for SC del Sol, a local, premier youth soccer club.

He served as Executive Director of the Greater Phoenix Multi-Cultural and Arts Foundation, a subsidiary of the Bureau, which was responsible for various education and tourism product development programs. In 2001, he launched a professional breakfast series held quarterly that explored multi-cultural markets, trends, nuances, demographics and diversity in the workplace.

In addition to his role at the Bureau, Garcia serves (or has served) on the Phoenix Regional Sports Commission Board of Directors (present), Arizona Youth Soccer Association (present), Pitzer College Alumni Board and Arizona Chapter Chair (past), Meeting Professionals International Multicultural Initiative Advisory Committee (past), the Arizona State University School of Community Resources Advisory Committee (past). His professional memberships include Meeting Professionals International (current), Destination Marketing Association International (current); International Association for Exhibition Management (current); International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals (past) and the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners (past). He is also a graduate of Valley Leadership, Class XXIII.

Garcia is a graduate of Pitzer College in Claremont, California with a degree in political studies. While at Pitzer, Garcia twice earned Regional All-America Team honors in soccer. He was also a 3-time 1st Team All-Conference player.

He and his wife Jennifer currently reside in Glendale, AZ and celebrated their 15-year wedding anniversary in June 2010. They have two sons, Gavin Michael, 13, and Jackson Cruz, 9. Garcia is very active in youth club soccer.

Allen Maag
Chief Communications Officer, Avnet, Inc.

Allen Maag joined Avnet as chief communications officer in September 1998 and is responsible for brand management, which includes global public relations, investor relations marketing, community relations and corporate communications. He is also a member of Avnet’s Executive Board. He was elected a corporate officer in 1999.

Al has the unique background of having worked for a Fortune 500 manufacturer (Molex), largest business publisher, Cahners and was principal and owner of an international marketing communications and consulting firm in Chicago, where he specialized in public relations, advertising and communications. His clients included technology firms, distributors, manufacturers, associations and publishers.

In 2002 he was recognized by Upside magazine, and in 2003 and in 2007 by PR Week magazine, and listed among the most effective public relations executives by both publications.

In 2009 Mr. Maag was voted Volunteer Executive of the Year by the Phoenix Business Journal. Some of the group’s he supports are:

He currently serves as an ambassador on the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) , founded the Phoenix chapter of the Business Marketing Association, where he also serves as a national board vice chair. He is involved with the marketing committees of the Arizona Technology Council and in 2008 and 2009 served as the dinner chair for the Arizona Governor’s Council of Innovation annual awards event. He was a board member of Goodwill in 2009/2010. Additionally, he is a board member of the Phoenix Sports Commission and is actively help their AZ Sports Hall of Fame program. He was co-chair of that program in 2010.

Mr. Maag formed and actively manages the 20-year-old Maag Toy Foundation, a 501(C)(3) charitable organization that collects new toys for needy children with his family.

A graduate of the University of Illinois (Chicago Circle Campus), he holds a BA in Communications.

Mr. Maag is the founder of the 16″ Softball Hall of Fame, based in Chicago, and in January 2004 was inducted into the Hall for his organizational efforts on its behalf.

He is also an avid Chicago Cubs and Bears fan…still has his season tickets. Loves Chicago hot dogs, beef sandwiches, pizza, ribs…the four food groups of Chicagoans.

James R. Hatfield
James R. Hatfield is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and its principal subsidiary Arizona Public Service Company. His responsibilities include: finance and treasury, investor relations, financial planning and budgeting, investment management, accounting, tax services, insurance risk management, supply chain management, internal audit and enterprise risk management.

Mr. Hatfield has more than 30 years of experience in the electric and gas industry. Before joining Pinnacle West in July 2008, he was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of OGE Energy Corp., the parent company of Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company and Enogex LLC. Prior to joining OGE Energy Corp. in 1994 he was employed by Aquila Inc. and its predecessors in a variety of financial positions with increasing responsibility.

Mr. Hatfield has a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City, as well as a Bachelors degree from Central Missouri State University. He is currently Chairman of the Board of EIM LTD. a provider of excess D&O Property and Liability insurance to the energy industry. He is one of two Expert Community Members of the Arizona Board of Regents Audit Committee. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors of St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center and the Phoenix Regional Sports Commission.

He is a former football official in the Big XII and Western Athletic Conferences as well as the Arena Football League.

Mr. Hatfield is married to Eileen and they have three children and two grandchildren.

James R. Moffett, Jr.
Currently serves as President of Crescent Crown Distributing, L.L.C. which is one of the top ten largest beer distributors in the country with operations in Arizona and Southern Louisiana selling over 26 million cases annually. In Arizona, Crescent Crown sells and distributes over 16 million cases of beer and non-alcoholic beverages throughout Maricopa and Pinal counties out of two warehouse locations in Central Phoenix and Surprise. The company employs over 600 people across the Valley that sell and deliver over 200 brands such as all Miller and Coors products, Corona, Modelo Especial, Pacifico, Dos Equis, Tecate, Heineken, Newcastle, Pabst, New Belgium/Fat Tire along with many more craft and specialty brands. Crescent Crown has been operating in Arizona since the acquisition of Pearce Beverage in 2004 and its newest facility located in Surprise, Arizona commenced operations in March of 2009. The Surprise facility is 280,000 square feet and employs approximately 240 employees that serve the Western part of the Phoenix Valley which represents 40% of Crescent Crown’s total Arizona business. Crescent Crown also has operations in Southern Louisiana which include markets in New Orleans, Thibodaux, Baton Rouge and Lafayette selling over 10 million cases annually and employing 430 distribution professionals.

Prior to joining Crescent Crown in 1999, James worked in the Financial sector as a analyst for Merrill Lynch Investment Banking Group in New York and Trust Company of the West in Los Angeles, California.

Education:
-The University of Texas at Austin – Business Degree
-University of Texas Football Team, Three Year Letterman – 1988, 1989, 1990
-Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity
-Texas Cowboy Charity Serivce Organization

Personal: Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. Married to Blair Ann Moffett. No Kids, yet.
Enjoys sports, skiing, hunting, fishing, anything outdoors and playing golf.

Local Organizations:
-Phoenix Regional Sports Commission

Anthony Casarona
CVS, Caremark

Barb Malone
in fiamme

Brent DeRaad
Scottsdale CVB

Chris Comacho
Executive Vice President of Greater Phoenix Economic Council
Served as president & CEO of the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation (GYEDC) from 2006-2008.

Camacho also serves as President of the Arizona Association of Economic Development (AAED), Phoenix Regional Sports Commission Board Member and Cabinet Member of the United Way.

Dan Steimel
Uhaul

David Nobs
The Lavidge Company

Derick Brownell
AYSA/CedarCrestone, Inc.

Ed Gowan
Arizona Golf Association

Gary Gelinas
Consolidated Sports Holdings (U.S.A)
Gary was born in Canada, growing up in Edmonton, Alberta until he moved with his family to Kelowna, British Columbia in 2000. He is a permanent resident in the United States and moved to Phoenix in 2010.

In his current capacity as Executive Vice President of Consolidated Sports Holdings (USA), Inc, Gary oversees a multifaceted Sports and Entertainment company that includes sports franchises and a golf course in Peoria, Arizona.

Until December 2009, Gary was the Owner, President, Managing Partner of Vision Sports Group, LLP, and President/General Manager of the Westside Warriors Hockey Junior A Franchise. Vision Sports Group other business units included the B.C. Breakers of the Western Women’s Hockey League, a Business-to-Business consulting firm, a card ticketing venture and VSG Concession Services. VSG secured a long-term marketing contract for the multipurpose facility, owned the fixed signage, and managed the ticketing system. In 2008-2009 Gary was the President/GM of the New Mexico Scorpion Professional Hockey Team.

Previously Gary owned and operated as Managing Partner and President, Nanoose Bays Sport, LP the parent company of the Nanaimo Clippers Junior A Hockey Team, Nanaimo Timbermen SR A Lacrosse Club, Vancouver Island Hockey School, and the Vancouver Island Venom Junior Clipper Spring Teams. Nanoose Bay was one the largest Sports and Entertainment Companies on Vancouver Island. Gary also operated Sport-Pro Management Group, a firm that negotiated contracts, managed investments, and provided consulting services to athletes.

His educational training is in the investment businesses and he was bestowed with the investment industries highest designation, Fellow Canadian Securities Institute. He also held his Certified Financial Planner Designation, Canadian Investment Manager Designation and was Branch Manager of two Investment Dealer Firms.

He has participated in sports at various levels, having competed in the Commonwealth Games for lacrosse and playing college hockey in Canada.

He has a beautiful wife of 22 years, who works in the human services field and they have one outstanding daughter who is a senior in University.

Garry Hays
Law Offices of Garry D Hays PC

J. Green
The Hilton Phoenix Chandler

John DiTullio
Ballard Spahr LLP

Kathy Kramer
Phoenix Convention Center

Keith Baker
Grand Canyon University Athletics

Ryan Hatch
Sports 620 KTAR

Larry Wilk
Jaburg and Wilk

Mark Tudi
Sport Search

Nikki Balich
Balich Consulting Group, L.L.C.

Nona Lee
Arizona Diamondbacks

Philip Welp
McArthur Towels

Ray Artigue
Artigue Agency

Rob Yowell
Gemini Sports Group

Steve Chuchri
President and CEO of the Arizona Restaurant Association

Worked for Congressman Matt Salmon in Washington, DC as Legislative Director.
Received the Alzheimer Association’s Desert Southwest Chapter Award for fundraising, Business Journal’s 40 under 40, and was Governor appointed to serve on the Governor’s Film and Television Commission.

Tim Matykiewicz
Arizona Lottery

Tom Taradash
National Football Foundation

Tom Harrison
Bernards Builders